I started using Washi two years ago, after an American friend recommended it to me and I decided to give it a try. Of course, I had always known about the beauty, expressiveness, and durability of Washi paper. As a Japanese person, I had unconsciously been using it in various areas of my life, other than printmaking. On the other hand, I was put off by Washi's unique texture and color, as well as the extremely thin material. When I was specializing in platinum printing, many of my acquaintances used Washi. The works they produced were all excellent, and I was particularly surprised by the rich range of gradations of black that could be expressed. In 2023, I was invited to an exhibition hosted by Awagami, a famous Washi manufacturer in Tokushima Prefecture. 

One of the conditions for application was that I must use Washi. I spent the next month immersed in my work with Washi. To my delight, I was awarded an honorable mention at the exhibition. But my passion for Washi didn't end there, and it led me to create various works with Washi. I was particularly impressed by the expressive power of Kitakata paper. It is flat but thin, and the delicate yet powerful reproduction of the images, especially the wide range of tones of black ink, was similar to the expression of platinum prints I had seen before. To print, the paper is treated by adding water to soften the fibers, but being clumsy as I am, I had a hard time at first handling the very thin paper. It took me many failures to get used to the process, but I was always impressed by the strength of Washi's fibers.

Kitakata is much thinner than regular printmaking paper or drawing paper, so it must be handled with care, and the paper must be held slowly and steadily with both hands. Despite its finicky handling, I have never been disappointed with a well-made print on Kitakata paper. Since then, I have been trying various papers other than Kitakata. I also find the Katagami-Washi series made by Awagami to be fascinating in ways that cannot be fully explained. Thankfully, there are many Washi manufacturers in my country. These papers are classified as Washi, and they are as diverse as the taste of wine, which differs depending on the country, region, and climate where it is produced. Whether you are an artist or not, I urge you to try picking up Washi once. It is unexpectedly light and fibrous. Try tearing it apart with your hands. You will be surprised at how much harder it is to tear it apart. I was born in this country, but I'm embarrassed to admit that it was only recently that I realized how wonderful Washi is. I'd like to try each and every Washi in Japan. I think it would be a very rich and enjoyable experience.

Yoshio Press

On the left is Kitakata-Washi, and on the right is Hahnemühle paper